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March 24, 2026
顽(頑)wán(wan2)
The character 顽 (wán) primarily denotes a sense of being mischievous or obstinate. It can describe someone who is stubborn or recalcitrant, often in a playful or naughty context. It is commonly used in phrases that connote playful mischief or stubborn behavior.
Strokes10Radical页Frequency#40798DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being mischievous (顽皮) is often seen as a part of childhood, reflecting a playful spirit that is sometimes celebrated. This character can evoke fond memories when discussing children's behavior in stories or family conversations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a playful child (the character's meaning) who refuses to follow rules, embodying the essence of 顽. The left component, '犬' (dog), suggests playfulness, while the right part '顽' (to play) reinforces the idea of a naughty spirit. Picture a dog that just won't listen, running around causing mischief!
Meanings of 顽
wán(wan2)
1mischievous
2obstinate
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 顽
顽Simplified
頑Traditional
10Strokes
页Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#40798Frequency Rank
Podcast: 顽
Podcast: 顽
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AI Study Notes for 顽
Quick Contrast
顽 (wán) vs 倔 (jué) — use 顽 for playful or mischievous stubbornness, while 倔 conveys a more serious or unyielding stubbornness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a playful child (the character's meaning) who refuses to follow rules, embodying the essence of 顽. The left component, '犬' (dog), suggests playfulness, while the right part '顽' (to play) reinforces the idea of a naughty spirit. Picture a dog that just won't listen, running around causing mischief!
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 顽 with its synonym, 固执 (gùzhí), which means stubborn but lacks the playful nuance. It's used informally to describe mischief or stubbornness, so avoid using it in formal contexts. Common collocations include 顽皮 (wánpí, naughty) and 顽固 (wángù, obstinate).
HSK Study Tips
While 顽 is not in the official HSK list, it shares a thematic connection with other adjectives describing personality traits, such as 调皮 (tiáopí, mischievous) and 固执 (gùzhí, stubborn). Focus on recognizing its usage in conversational contexts to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being mischievous (顽皮) is often seen as a part of childhood, reflecting a playful spirit that is sometimes celebrated. This character can evoke fond memories when discussing children's behavior in stories or family conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 顽 to describe serious stubbornness without the playful aspect, such as saying '他很顽' (Tā hěn wán) to mean 'He is very stubborn.' Instead, use '他很固执' (Tā hěn gùzhí) for serious stubbornness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 顽
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Grammar Patterns of 顽
顽 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
There is no easy short-term solution to Britain's chronic economic malaise.
Cultural Notes for 顽
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being mischievous (顽皮) is often seen as a part of childhood, reflecting a playful spirit that is sometimes celebrated. This character can evoke fond memories when discussing children's behavior in stories or family conversations.
Word Family of 顽
Words Containing This Character16
顽强wánqiángtenacious頑強
顽固wángùstubborn頑固
顽皮wánpínaughty頑皮
顽童urchin頑童
顽wánmischievous頑
顽疾ineradicable disease頑疾
顽症stubborn illness頑症
顽劣stubborn and obstreperous頑劣
冥顽不灵stupid冥頑不靈
冥顽stupid冥頑
凶顽fierce and uncontrollable兇頑
愚顽ignorant and stubborn愚頑
顽匪gangster頑匪
顽民unruly people頑民
顽梗obstinate頑梗
顽钝stupid頑鈍
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 顽强 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 顽
No, while it often describes children, it can also refer to adults who exhibit stubborn or mischievous behavior.
It's generally considered informal and playful, so it's best avoided in formal writing or speech.
Some synonyms include 调皮 (tiáopí, mischievous) and 固执 (gùzhí, stubborn), but they have slightly different connotations.
